Electrical amusement device



April 2, 1935. T. w. LOARING 1,996,301

- ELECTRICAL AMUSEMENT DEVICE Filed Oct. 30, 1.953 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 e 2e .9 46 e 16 2 5e Gale 9% n0 "6725 6 9 liele I 32 a9 a 36 24 9E A 4 2 ,6 1 I; a I 37 Or 1 Lot 5/ 44 I j 49 Y 13 Z7 1.9 i 3 L l l 45 4a 25 45 7.6

awe/MM Thomas WLoarin v Skim/"M3 April 2, 1935. v T. w. LOARING 1,996,301 ELECTRICAL AMUSEMENT DEVICE Filed Oct. 30, 1933 I 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 gwucm boo Homas WLmzrin Patented Apr. 2, 1935 UNITED srATssffsP i rrs-Nr ore-16E 7 1,996,301 ELECTRICAL AMUSEMENT DEVICE 'lihomasW. Loaring, Cincinnati. Ohio, assignor of one third to M. Chester Martin, Cincinnati, Ohio, and one-third toJohnW". Fischer. Application October so, 1933, Serial No. 6952771 6 Claims." (o1.273

This invention relates to electrical circuit control'means and is exemplified herein in connection with acompetitive roll ball game or amusement device. 1 I f Anobject of the invention isto provide highly eflicient but-simpleelectrical circuits and associated means for visibly indicating the scores made in the game and for visibly and audibly announcing the-termination of a game by a winner.

Another object is to provide an improved electrical means for operatively disposing the electrical switches of this invention in operative position after a game has been played. 3

Another object is to provide a new and efficient combination of the game table proper and the electricalapparatus adapted to be associated therewith whereby said parts may'be readily set up in and removed'fi'o'm operative position.

Another object is to'provid'e a newform of elec tricalmulti-circuit switch. I f

These and other objects are attained by the means'described herein andillustrated in the Fig. 2 is a cross sectional view taken longitw. dinally of the upper end'of-one of-the game tables.

' Eig. 3 is a plan view, with parts broken away, of' the upper surface of the electrical contact board of this invention.

Fig. 4 is a View similar to Fig. 3 and showing the under portion of the contactboard.

'Figs. 5,6, and 7 arefragmentaldetailviews of the electrical switch member and associated brushes forming parts of the presentinvention.

Fig. 8 is an electrical wiring diagram of one of the game tables.

Fig. 9 is a wiringrdiagram representing the master relay and associated circuits used at one only of a group of tables, such means beingadditional to means illustrated in Fig. 8.

The present invention contemplates the use of a plurality of roll ball'game tables which are adapted to be used by a number of persons ina competitive game in which the winner'is the one who first-completes a series of lights at his table and which lights are adapted to be energized by the rolling of balls into apertures at one end of the tabla'in a manner well known.

' Two of thetables such asdescribed are represented in Fig. 1 and each comprises the base portion2fl and the front and the side strips 2| and #22. An upper surface board 23 is suitably-and constitute supports for an upright casing- 32, the

responding to the height of the narrow stripi28, --so' that when thecasing is set down" upon itssup-' ports; the bottom edge of the apron strip 44'seats 'upon the-top edge of said strip 28 and the-adjacent front face of the rear apron strip J 45 lies removablysupported by said front and side strips and in spaced relationship with the base2fl. At the upper end of the boards 23 a plurality of ball receiving apertures in suitable formation are provided. At the lower or outer end of the boards 5 in part by the narrow ,transversestrip 28 "and the adjacent upper ends of the side strips 22. 15 Extending between the ends ofsaid side strips 2 is a bar 29. to which a door-til maybe hing- .edly attached as at 3! for permitting access into the compartment. The membersjust'described lower end of which. is;adapted; to fit inand be supported by the strips 22-, 28 and 29. This casing 32 is adapted to contain visiblesignals or. other indicia which are actuatedor energized during theplaying of the game. Inthe present instance this casing is for med to provide the back panel 33, side panels 3 1, a topboard 35, an interior pane el 36 andthe bottom 47. Panel 36 has extending forwardly [therefrom the division members 31 and 38 which divide the interior of the casing into three chambers. .Each of these chambers has a pluralityof electric light bulbs 39. disposed I therein and suitably mounted on the interior panel 3 6. The three chambers mentionedmay be subdivided into still smallercompartments by the .division members 43 in each of which one of the .electric light bulbs maybe disposed. The front I of thecasing is closed by a glass. plate 46, covering the three chambers mentioned. At-the bottom .of the casing the 'front apron strip 44 depends 40 downwardly therefrom., This apronstrip lies against a similar memberMi which isof greater length than the strip '44 whereby an. ofiset .or shoulder 455 results, the depthof the offset coragainstthe rearof strip 28; In; addition'to this support; the side portions of the signal casing rest upon the top-edges of the lateral double strips latter.

be seen that the entire light casing unit may be readily lifted into and from operative position.

There is likewise provided according to the present structure, an electrical contact board 48 which is hingedly mounted as at 49 to the front of the apron member 44 adjacent the bottom thereof. The structure associated with this panel board will be later described but it may now be pointed out that said board may be swung up into parallel and substantially overlying relationship with the casing 32 and consequently forms part of the readily assembled game table. It will be understood that when the table is initially set up, the casing is inserted into position in the manner described before the top playing board 23 has been set down into position. The contact board 48 is then lowered into the position shown in Fig. 2 where it is supported laterally by suitable blocks 59 or the like provided on the inner face of the lateral strips 22. It will further be seen by reference to Fig. 2 that the playing board 23 is adapted to be positioned above and in spaced relationship with the contact board. 7

The electrical apparatus associated with the casing 32 comprises, as above mentioned, a plurality of electric light bulbs 39 mounted on the panel 39. The electric wiring for these bulbs may be disposed within the shallow compartment 51 resulting between the back and interior panels 33 and 36, respectively. Each one of these light bulbs is adapted to be electrically connected with a switch member, a corresponding number of which are on the contact board 48.

The individual switch members of this invention are preferably formed of insulation material such as bakelite and comprise a body or drum portion 52 and an integral extension 53. The drum portion 52 has a bore within which a metal bushing 153 is secured. Mounted on limited portions only on the outer face of the drum 52 is a pair of electrical contact plates, one of them 54 being of less width than the other 55. These contact plates are formed at their transverse edges with inwardly turned flange portions 58 which are embedded in'the drum 52 during formation of the The plate 54 is electrically connected by means of a-pin 5'! with the bushing I53. The other plate 55 may be secured in position by means of a short screw 58 which has no contact with the bushing [53. I I

. The contact board 48 is provided with a number of rows of apertures 59 through which the Theextensions 53 of the switches are adapted normally to project into the main or larger portions of the apertures 59. Said switches may be held in said normal position by means of the electrical brush members with which they are adapted to. cooperate. The brush members may be mounted upon small blocks 64' (Figs. 2 and 3) which are positioned just forward of the apertures 59. The brush members are preferably copper strips secured threeeach upon one of the blocks 64 and having their rear ends formed with a bead 95 (Figs. 5 and 6). The brush members are adapted to bear against the drum portions 5| of the switches and are adapted normally to seat in a transversely extending channel portion 66 provided on each of said drums. By this means the switches may be held in operative position. The channel portions 66 are so located relative to the contact plates 54 and 55, that when the drum members are rotated by the striking of a ball against the extensions 53, the contact plates are moved into contact with the brushes for completing electric circuits to be later described.

The under face of the contact board 48 has slidably mounted thereon a rack 61 comprising transversely extending bars 68 each of which is disposed immediately beneath a row of the switch members positioned as described. The rearmost of the bars 68 has attached thereto the armature extension member 69 of a solenoid 10. When the switch members have been rotated by dropping of the playing ball, the extensions 53 thereof assume substantially the positions seen adjacent the right-hand side of Figs. 2, 3 and 4, that is, the extensions 53 are turned down into positions immediately at the rear of the bars 68 of said rack. When the solenoid is energized, the extension member 59 draws the rack 61 rearwardly of the contact board and the extensions 53 are carried rearwardly and upwardly by the bars 68, into the normal playing position of the switches. It may be noted that the extensions 53 of the switches are shown as formed with the heel portions 7| (Figsj5 and 6) which are of such angular relationship with the bars 68 as to be readily engaged by them.

The novel electrical circuits and associated means will now be described. Initially it should pointed out that in the playing of the game, the first player closing a related group of the switches wins the game and at this time the group of lights illuminated by the winning player continues illuminated while all those at the remaining tables are extinguished. Simultaneously a bell and a signal light on the top of each casing 32 further indicate the termination of the game. In the present illustration the casings are shown as each provided with three groups of the lights. The closing of any one of the corresponding groups of switches would terminate the game. Hence it is obvious that the casing may be provided with only one group of the lights or with more than the numbers of groups shown herein. The various operations of this game are efiected by electrical power from a common source 12. The power may be described as transmitted through a line 13 to one of the tables of the group. Each table is provided with a pair of triple contact sockets represented at 74 (Fig. 2) and a pair of short cables 75 each'containing three wires corresponding to said triple contacts. A pair of these cables 15 may be extended between each pair of tables.

The triple contacts are represented in Figs. 3

and 9 by means of the single rows of small circles embracing the numerals l, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6. The power described as entering at 13, is carried through the contacts indicated by the circles 4 along the common line 76 down to the ends of the electrical contact shafts 6| to which the wire 16 is electrically connected and upon which the switches are rotatably mounted. When the plate member 54 which contacts only the brush member ll, has been moved into this relation,

he ur n i rrie tothe rush member o each group of brush membersandfromgthence lec al cu r ntis t nsm te t t e el ri i hthu bsby he w ri r p esehtedon the left hand side of Fig. 8. Itwillbeseen that the cir-r Q it.- from. he us ei he-switch ma ked numerh i arri du he sideot thecor e no d ihel markeddi ti u b andso w t a the remaining-brushesfl and lights,-. The other S esof. h l ts con ec i :accommo n there. being but one, masterrelay provided for.

h hole-ether of. ta le Pas in t r m master ytmhtt iizgt e cur e t continues 0W1 llnfis fi 8,5' and; 817 to contact No.3 where 1 it is returnedalong-the line 8;! tothe source 12 It will be noted adjacent the lcwer portion of hat aera on i he-wirin o t e groups of switches may be eflected so that the f rh ling e-Qh llihtb a d r of l eii h fde r-titre $9. asilrac o sh dl h in es sh wn. .th hreer ost r i l .ch'es 1.12.3, nd epr eh eone oup- The second .group hasbeen given the relation shinindicated by the switchesfi, 1,, 3, 9, and l0,

1 tnehswigtch 8 being disposed, at some, distance from. theremainder of the group, Itis obvious thatgyariou arrangements of thegroups may be,

resorted to as desired.

Thefljswitches {oh each groupare connected in series. Thetopmost group .I; '2, 3, 4,; and 5 may betak'ena'stypical. It will be seen that the lefthand brush 88; is electrically connected as at 89- to the. 'electi ifcal shaft 6|. When the contact plate, 55. electrically joinsthe free ends of this and thev adjacent brush 90, both for which co ntact saidplate, the current is carried rfroin brush 9Q along the line 91 to the left hand brush 92 of the adjacent switch. The remaining switches are similarly. joined in series and; the right-hand switch is electrically connected as atf93 with a line, '94; which extends to one side of the coil ofv relay'19. The othersideof the-relay coil con- 'nected as at 95, .to the contact block 18;. It will be. seentherefore that when a groupoi the light switches hasbeen closed, the relay IB isactuated at the winning table, that is, the-table-atwhich a fullgroup-of.lights is first energized. vAt this time the armature of the relay is moved over to close with the contact points 96 and 9']. The actuation of said relay 19 simultaneously actuates the master relay 83 so that the lights at all the remaining tables are extinguished while the lights at the winning table are immediately connected to a separate circuit so as to remain illuminated, as will be described. One side of the master relay 83 is connected as at 98 (Fig. 9) with one of the individual relay contacts 96, so that the circuit on this side may be traced to cable contact No. 3. The other side of the master relaycoil is connected as at 99 with the other side of the power circuit 13.

The change over of the relay'le completes a light circuit at the individual tables as represented by the line 16 already described and as completed by the common light line 180 entering the conp e di the perat a tua e' the solenoid intend act; hlcck. 8. and; f om thence cqhtihu ne dyer the n w clos d line i to cable conte .2 3519! cqm'p et he h sihdiv dua ilie t NH hth h ope o aya eunce 1hr in in his bell th be innin hivaagame, pre: eus i a ed; after aeame. 135,3 3

ns. the t h me ber othe play n R051: n'i reed nessf r anew same.v l

.The individual relays at each tableandasso; at d wir nd th e ay be cony ni y d p d the m a tmen a z h cwtaccess t wh c s ad thr u h hedoor 3.0:.v J The; wirin f m, theswitches t he i h s. ay be passed; hr ug aid, compa tment up nto. the hallcxii hamber 5 f t cas n -3.2.59. ha he electrica apparatus associated with the units, is; subs tially invisible and well protected] v1t ay he remarked that some. su tab e indi ie is shown o the a s. plates 4.0; d and that the casing, which indicia becomes, visible, on upon cations of this kind'are-believed tobecomm sed within thespirit andscope of the present inven,,

tion. Whatgis claimedis: I Y 1. In combination, a pluralityoft electrical units adapted to be-energized fromv a common line, .each unit comprising aplurality of; normally: open switchesand a pluralityxof signalszelectrie ca yc ec edone eachw th one cithe sw hes-,1 the signals-of eachunit. beingconnected in; series;

indiv du lelay asso iat d: oneonlyr-wit seacli. unit, a common line connecting the normally closed contact of all said individual relays, a single master relay controllable by any one of the individual relays and likewise having a normally closed contact in said common line of theindividual relays, closing of all switches at any one unit being adapted to energize the individual relay at that unit, said energized unit being adapted to effect actuation of said master relay for deenergizing the signals at all units, and a separate circuit closed by actuation of said initially energized individual relay whereby the signals of the associated unit areinstantaneously reenergized.

2. Competitive game apparatus comprising a plurality of roll-ball tables, a plurality of cooperating electrical units provided one at each switch means and associa. .d cleer table and eachcomprising a plurality of normally open switches closable'by the players and a plu-.

rality of signals electrica'llyconnected one each with one of the switches, the signals of each unit being connected in series, an individual relay associated one only with each unit, a common line connecting the normally closed contact of all said individual relays, a single master relay controllable'by any'one of the individual relays and likewise having a normally closed contact in said common line of the individual relays, closing of all switches at any one unit being adapted to energize the individual. relay'at that unit, said energized unit being adapted to effect actuation of said master relay for deenergizing the signals at all'units, and a separate circuit closed by actuation of said initially 'energized individual relay whereby the signals of the associated unit are instantaneously reenergized for indicating the winning table.

3. Competitive game apparatus comprising a plurality of roll-ball tables, a plurality of cooperating electrical units provided one at each table and each comprising a plurality of normally open switches closable by the players and a plu- 'rality of signals electrically connected one each with one of the switches, the signals ofeach unit being connected in series, an individual relay associated one only with each unit, a common line connecting the normally closed contact of all said individual relays, a single master relay controllable by any one of the individual relays and likewise having a normally closed contact in said common line of the individual relays, closing of all switches at any one unit being adapted to energize theindividual relay at that unit, said energized unit being adapted to effect actuation of said master relay for deenergizing the signals nal means, support members'at one end of the table top and adapted to slidably receive and supportsaid casing in upright position, and an electrical contact board adapted to cooperate with said signal means and hingedly mounted onthe lower front portion ofthe casing said contact boardbeing adapted in inoperative position to be disposed in substantially parallel overlying relationship with the casing and to be swung forwardly and disposed in operative position beneath the'plane of the upper table top member prior to positioning of the latter.

5. Competitive game apparatus comprising a plurality of roll ball tables a plurality of cooperating electrical units provided at each table and each comprising a plurality of normally open switches closable by the players and a plurality of signals electrically connected one each with one of the switches the signals of each unit being connected in series, an individual relay associated one only with each table and with the electrical units thereon, a common line connecting the normally closed contact of all said relays, a single master relay controllable'by any one of the individual relays and likewise having a normally closed contact in said common line of the relays, closing ofall switches of any one unit being adapted to energize the relay at the-associated table, said energized unit being adapted to effect actuation of said master relay for de-energizing all the signals at all tables, and a separate circuit closed by actuation of said initially energized individual relay whereby the signals of said relay-energizing unit are instantaneously re-energized forindic'ating the winning table.

6. Competitive game apparatus comprising a plurality of roll ball tables, a plurality of cooperating electrical units provided at each table and each comprising a plurality of normally open switches closable by the players and a plurality of signals and electrically connected one each with one of the switches, the signals of each unit being connected in series, an individual relay associated one only with each table and with the electrical units thereon, a common line connecting the normally closed contact of all said relays, a single master relay controllable by any one of the individual relays and likewise having a normally closed contact in'said common line of the relays, closing of all switches of any one unit being adapted to energize the relay at the associated table, said energized unit being adapted to effect actuation of said master relay for de-energizing all the signals at all tables, a separate circuit closed by actuation of said initially energized individual relay whereby the signals of said relay-energizing unit are instantaneously -re-energized for indicating the winning table, a bell and circuit energized by actuation of said master relay, and alight embraced in the relay circuit at each table'and energized simultaneously with said relay for further indicating termination of play.

THOMAS W. LOARING. 

